Review: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

Title: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Series: Part of the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: January 2014

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Who could tell the origin stories of the gods of Olympus better than a modern-day demigod? PERCY JACKSON provides an insider's view with plenty of 'tude in this illustrated collection.

A publisher in New York asked me to write down what I know about the Greek gods, and I was like, "Can we do this anonymously? Because I don't need the Olympians mad at me again." But if it helps you to know your Greek gods, and survive an encounter with them if they ever show up in your face, then I guess writing all this down will be my good deed for the week.

So begins Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, in which the son of Poseidon adds his own magic—and sarcastic asides—to the classics. He explains how the world was created, then gives readers his personal take on a who's who of ancients, from Apollo to Zeus. Percy does not hold back. "If you like lots of lying, stealing, backstabbing, and cannibalism, then read on, because it definitely was a Golden Age for all that."

Dramatic full-color illustrations throughout by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco make this volume—a must for home, library, and classroom shelves—as stunning as it is entertaining.

My rating: ★★★★★

This book was so fun! Right from the start, I loved it! Especially because Percy purposefully did NOT start the book off with Zeus 😂 His sassiness is one of my favorite things about him 😂 Anyway, this book talks about some of the major Greek gods, and because this is middle grade, the myths were consumable, even when it came to those darker myths. And the myths were also pretty concise, which I appreciated.

Review- Camp Half-Blood Confidential: Your Real Guide to the Demigod Training Camp by Rick Riordan

Title: Camp Half-Blood Confidential: Your Real Guide to the Demigod Training Camp

Series: Camp Half-Blood Chronicles | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | Heroes of Olympus

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, Greek mythology

Publication date: May 2017

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: In response to an awful camp orientation video created by the god Apollo, Percy Jackson and other residents of Camp Half-Blood answer such questions as “What is this place?” and “Do I get to keep the T-shirt?” Newbies can check out the section on the Divine Cabins, read up on Magical Landmarks, and consult the chapter of Training Arenas. But Camp Half-Blood Confidential explores much more than just the buildings and grounds. It includes info that can only be learned from those who live there.

For instance, campers do not always co-exist in peace and harmony. The camp is not run with superior efficiency. Prophecies do not flow forth with great regularity. Sprinkled throughout are stories from heroes who have called Camp Half-Blood home or just passed through on their way to places unknown. Chiron himself introduces the book with a brief history of training based on his millennia of experience. And, of course, there are divine words of wisdom from the god Apollo himself, because . . . well, because the demigod authors would prefer not to be struck down, thank you very much.

My rating: ★★★★☆

You hold in your hands the definitive guide to life here at our beloved Greek demigod training facility. It's written for demigods by demigods, which means you get the inside, behind-the-scenes scoop on just about everything.

This was a fun book! And it was funny because before this book, Apollo had done an orientation video for new campers to watch, and apparently, it was quite... something 😂

Review: The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan

Title: The Demigod Diaries

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle grade, Greek mythology

Publication date: August 2012

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: What dangers do runaway demigods Luke and Thalia face on their way to Camp Half-Blood? Are Percy and Annabeth up to the task of rescuing stolen goods from a fire-breathing giant who doesn't take kindly to intruders? How exactly are Leo, Piper, and Jason supposed to find a runaway table, dodge a band of party-loving Maenads (who just might be a little psychotic), and stave off a massive explosion...all in one hour or less?

With his trademark wit and creativity, Rick Riordan answers these questions and more in three never-before-seen short stories that provide vital back-story to the Heroes of Olympus and Percy Jackson books. Original art, enlightening character interviews and profiles, puzzles, and a quiz add to the fun in this action-packed collection.

My rating: ★★★★☆

This book was a collection of short stories and other fun things, and I had a blast reading it! But then you know how much I love Percy Jackson. Lol.

Review: The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo #1) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Hidden Oracle

Series: The Trials of Apollo #1

Other series in the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles: Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: May 2016

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: How do you punish an immortal?

By making him human.

After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disorientated, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favour.

But Apollo has many enemies—gods, monsters and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go... an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I have been really looking forward to reading this series, not only because I love Percy Jackson in general, but because I love Apollo too!

Review- The Lightning Thief: Illustrated Edition (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Lightning Thief: Illustrated Edition

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1

Author: Rick Riordan

Illustrator: John Rocco

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: July 2005

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

This deluxe gift edition of the internationally best-selling first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, lavishly illustrated by series artist John Rocco, is a must-have for Riordan fans.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I have owned this copy of The Lightning Thief FOR YEARS but I had not read it. I first read The Lightning Thief I think maybe 13 years ago? So it’s been a while. So with the new TV show coming out, I thought this would be the perfect time to revisit this book and finally read the illustrated edition.

Review: Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

Title: Daughter of the Deep

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, sci-fi, fantasy

Publication date: January 2021

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan pays homage to Jules Verne in his exciting modern take on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world. Ana's parents died while on a scientific expedition two years ago, and the only family she's got left is her older brother, Dev, also a student at HP. Ana's freshman year culminates with the class's weekend trial at sea, the details of which have been kept secret. She only hopes she has what it'll take to succeed. All her worries are blown out of the water when, on the bus ride to the ship, Ana and her schoolmates witness a terrible tragedy that will change the trajectory of their lives.

But wait, there's more. The professor accompanying them informs Ana that their rival school, Land Institute, and Harding-Pencroft have been fighting a cold war for a hundred and fifty years. Now that cold war has been turned up to a full broil, and the freshmen are in danger of becoming fish food. In a race against deadly enemies, Ana will make amazing friends and astounding discoveries about her heritage as she puts her leadership skills to the test for the first time.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I love mythology and I love Rick Riordan’s takes on all these different myths, but I was very excited to read something new and a little different from him! This book was inspired by the classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I didn't know anything about it, so I was excited to dive into it (pun absolutely intended 😆) and learn more through Rick Riordan's writing. And I ended up really enjoying it!

Bookish Discussion: Top Authors I Own the Most Books From (as of 2018)!

I was very excited to check out this list because I last did this back in February of 2015 and I know it has changed quite a bit! For comparison purposes, here are the authors who made it on my list 3 years ago:

Bookish Discussion: Most Read Authors (as of 2018)!

The last time I checked out who my most read authors were was back in February of 2015 in this post. And you can do this too thanks to a cool tool from Goodreads!



Anyway, now 3 years later I have decided to see how that list has changed. But just for reference, here are the authors that appeared on that previous 2015 list:

Review: Demigods & Magicians (Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #1-3) by Rick Riordan

Title: Demigods & Magicians

Series: Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #1-3 | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus | The Kane Chronicles

Novellas in this book: The Son of Sobek (#1) | The Staff of Serapis (#2) | The Crown of Ptolemy (#3)

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology, Egyptian mythology

Publication date: April 2016

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis:

Magic, monsters, and mayhem abound when Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase meet Carter and Sadie Kane for the first time. Weird creatures are appearing in unexpected places, and the demigods and magicians have to team up to take them down. As they battle with Celestial Bronze and glowing hieroglyphs, the four heroes find that they have a lot in common--and more power than they ever thought possible. But will their combined forces be enough to foil an ancient enemy who is mixing Greek and Egyptian incantations for an evil purpose? Rick Riordan wields his usual storytelling magic in this adrenaline-fueled adventure.

My rating: ★★★★★

First of all, yes, I do own each individual e-book plus this physical copy of the book that bundles together all three stories :)

Review: The Crown of Ptolemy (Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #3) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Crown of Ptolemy

Series: Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #3 | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus | The Kane Chronicles

Previous novellas in this series: The Son of Sobek (#1) | The Staff of Serapis (#2)

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology, Egyptian mythology

Publication date: May 2015

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own e-book

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Synopsis:

In their first encounter, demigod Percy Jackson and magician Carter Kane had to battle a giant crocodile on Long Island. A month later, Annabeth Chase ran into Carter's sister, Sadie, on the A train to Rockaway, where the pair fought a god named Serapis. Now trouble is brewing again, this time on Governor's Island. An ancient Egyptian magician named Setne has come back from the dead and is experimenting with Egyptian and Greek magic, trying to become a god himself. He's so powerful and tricky that all four-Percy, Annabeth, Carter, and Sadie-have to team up against him. But their usual weapons and spells aren't going to cut it this time. Will the heroes be taken down by a wannabe god who looks like Elvis, or will they rise to the challenge?

Told from Percy's point of view, this third demigod-magician crossover story has all of the spunk and action that Rick Riordan fans crave.

My rating: ★★★★★
This whole crossover was so epic that it felt like it could’ve been a whole series on it’s own, it was certainly complex enough. But at the same time, it was SO perfect just as short stories. It makes no sense, I know, but it was just great!

Review: The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus #5) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Blood of Olympus

Series: The Heroes of Olympus #5

Previous books in this series: The Lost Hero (#1) | The Son of Neptune (#2) | The Mark of Athena (#3) | The House of Hades (#4)

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology, Roman mythology

Publication date: October 2014

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own Hardcover

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Synopsis:

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

My rating: ★★★★★
So, in this book, the demigods are trying to get the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood before all hell breaks loose and an all out war is started... all while trying to keep Gaea from waking up fully.

Review: The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Sword of Summer

Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Norse mythology

Publication date: October 2015

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own Hardcover

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Synopsis:

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die...

My rating: ★★★★★
Do I even need to mention that I loved this book? You all know Rick Riordan is my favorite author, so I doubt it ;) But I'm going to say it anyway, I LOVED it!! I loved the mythology! While Greek mythology is my favorite, really, I find all mythology interesting and am always up to learning more about them. As is the case with Norse mythology. I am a bit familiar but not nearly as much as I am with Greek mythology. Which is one of the things I love about this: you learn about mythology but in a fun way! I particularly love that we got into the more minor gods, because we all pretty much know about Thor and Loki, mostly thanks to Marvel (not that I’m complaining... even though the mythos in the MCU isn’t all that accurate to the classic Norse mythology).

Review: The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Demigod Files

Companion book to: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Author: Rick Riordon

Genre: Middle Grade, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: February 2009

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own Hardcover

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Synopsis:

How do you handle an encounter with Medusa on the New Jersey interstate? What's the best way to take down a Minotaur? Become an expert on everything in Percy's world with this must-have guide to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Complete with interviews, puzzles, games, and original short stories by Rick Riordan.

My rating:

The Demigod Files is such a fun book! Not only does it have fun interviews with the hilarious Stoll brothers (on pulling pranks), Annabeth (on Percy Jackson, hehehe), Grover, and, of course, Percy Jackson himself, but it also has a map of Camp Half-Blood, a crossword puzzle, word search, and my favorite: short stories!

Random Reads: September 2014

Random Reads is a meme where we pick a random book from our shelf to read within the month.

Weeeee! This meme sounds like a lot of fun and is something I think I really need! My TBR mountain is out of control!! I had a lot of fun with this meme last month so I decided to join in again.

Showcase Sunday (#56)

Welcome to Showcase Sunday, hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea. The aim of this event is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed form the libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week. For more information about how this feature works and to join in, click here.

Review: The House of Hades (The Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Riordan

Title: The House of Hades

Series: The Heroes of Olympus #4

Previous books in this series: The Lost Hero (#1) | The Son of Neptune (#2) | The Mark of Athena (#3)

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology, Roman mythology

Publication date: October 2013

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis:

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

My rating: ★★★★★
[WARNING: Major spoilers from the previous book, The Mark of Athena. Otherwise, it's spoiler free if you have not read HoH :)]

Holy Hades, this book was AMAZING! That is no surprise, of course, seeing as how much I love mythology and all of Rick Riordan's books ;) And after the crazy cliffhanger (quite literally, too) in The Mark of Athena, I was ecstatic to finally start on this book and dive into this world that I love so much! But OH MY GODS! I don't think I can review this book without fangirling all over the place! It was just so absolutely PERFECT!

Review: The Staff of Serapis (Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #2) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Staff of Serapis

Series: Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #2 | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus | The Kane Chronicles

Previous novella in this series: The Son of Sobek

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology, Roman mythology

Publication date: May 2014

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own e-book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

In this adventure, Annabeth encounters more oddities in the subway than usual, including a two-headed monster and a younger blond girl who reminds her a little of herself. This is the story fans have asked for, in which Annabeth Chase teams up with Sadie Kane. The demigod daughter of Athena and the young magician from Brooklyn House take on a larger-than-life foe from the ancient world. Perhaps even more disturbing than the power-hungry god they encounter is the revelation that he is being controlled by someone—someone all too familiar to Sadie. As a special bonus, the first chapter of THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS, the final book in The Heroes of Olympus series, is included.

My rating: ★★★★★
In The Staff of Serapis, we have Annabeth who is just minding her business in downtown NY, when all of a sudden she see a monster... that ignores her? And to top it off she has never seen anything like it! So she follows said monster and runs into a feisty British girl (Sadie!) who is also hunting a devious little creature. Without giving too much away, Annabeth and Sadie team up to fight this monster and something much bigger that they did not expect... they need to stop it before it destroys the world. But then again, these seems to be their normal ;)

Review: The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Mark of Athena

Series: The Heroes of Olympus #3

Previous books in this series: The Lost Hero (#1) | The Son of Neptune (#2)

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology, Roman mythology

Publication date: October 2012

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own Hardcover

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare...

My rating: ★★★★★
Oh this book... You all know how much I love Greek mythology and that Rick Riordan is one of my most favorite authors ever, right? Well, The Mark of Athena was just as amazing as his other books!

Literary Nails: The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan

It's pretty obvious that I love anything book related, right? *Looks around blog* Um, yeah, rhetorical question ;) Something you guys may or may not know about me is that I absolutely LOVE doing my nails and trying out new nail designs! Now, I am not the artistic type. In fact, I suck at anything art-related or remotely creative, lol. I can barely draw a freaking stick figure! LOL

The point is, while I may not be the best with art-related things, I try. I love nail art and I wanted to share a little something with you.

Review: The Son of Sobek (Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #1) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Son of Sobek

Series: Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #1 | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus | The Kane Chronicles

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology, Egyptian mythology

Publication date: June 18, 2013

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own e-book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

In this e-book short story by Rick Riordan, Carter Kane is investigating rumored sightings of a monster on Long Island when he runs into something else: a mysterious boy named Percy Jackson. And their meeting isn't exactly friendly. . . . Includes a sneak peek chapter from HOUSE OF HADES, Book Four in the Heroes of Olympus series.

My rating: ★★★★★
Percy AND Carter? YAY!! Rick basically answered our prayers of a cross over and the result was pure freakin' awesomeness! I absolutely loved everything about it! And if you've got no idea what I am talking about, Percy Jackson from "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" and "Heroes of Olympus" AND Carter Kane from "The Kane Chronicles" meet in this clash of mythologies!